Combination switching and display electronic modular control unit

Abstract

This invention relates to a modular electronic unit which provides a combined switching and display function for controlling equipment of all kinds. The unit may be used alone to control equipment as desired, or several such units may be combined to control several pieces of equipment with a single master unit, including a microcontroller which controls the master unit, plus several slave units. The unit of the invention uses a microcontroller in combination with a non-volatile random access memory to provide fully programmable switching codes and display messages. The unit of the invention may be included in new equipment or as a retrofit for existing equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-contained modular electronic switching unit for use in place of an electromechanical digital switch for controlling equipment comprising: (a) a casing module;   (b) a display on said module for displaying switch position information to the user;   (c) a microcontroller in said module for coordinating the electrical components of said switching unit in performing the switching function;   (d) a non-volatile random access memory in said module for storing ongoing switching information regarding the switch position and retaining said information in the event of an electrical power failure so that upon power resumption said information being available for use;   (e) a programmable read-only memory in said module for receiving and storing information regarding the electrical code output for each switch position and the corresponding message for transmission to said display;   (f) a read-only memory serial switch code register in said module for storing information regarding specific locations of information in said programmable read-only memory and directing electrical signals to the specific locations and for providing parallel switch code output signals to control external equipment;   (g) buss means on said module for the electrical connection thereof to equipment to be controlled;   (h) first means for providing flow communication between said microcontroller and said non-volatile random access memory;   (i) said first flow communication means including (1) a non-volatile random access memory data buss for allowing the transfer of data between said microcontroller and said non-volatile random access memory,   (2) a non-volatile random access memory address buss,   (3) a non-volatile random access memory control buss, and   (4) a serial interface buss for allowing serial input of data into said non-volatile random access memory     (j) second means including address lines for providing flow communication of address information between said programmable read-only memory and said serial switch code register so that address information can be changed or intialized;   (k) third means including data lines for providing flow communication of data between said programmable read-only memory and said serial switch code register so that switch code data can be changed or initialized; and   (l) an output electrically connected to said serial switchcode register for communicating with the equipment being controlled.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an output buffer driver electrically connected between said output and said serial switch code register. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display includes a liquid crystal display.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display includes a light emitting diode display.   
     
     
       5. The modular electronic switching unit of claim 1 further including a module control buss for allowing said switching unit to communicate with other switching units. 
     
     
       6. A self-contained electronic switch control system for controlling a plurality of pieces of equipment characterized by (a) a master modular electronic switching unit comprising: (1) a casing;   (2) a display for displaying switch position information to the user on said casing;   (3) a microcontroller for coordinating the electrical components of said switching unit in performing the switching function in said casing;   (4) a non-volatile random access memory in said casing for storing ongoing switching information regarding the switch position and retaining said information in the event of an electrical power failure so that upon power resumption said information being available for use;   (5) a programmable read-only memory in said casing for receiving and storing information regarding the electrical code output for each switch position and the corresponding message for transmission to said display;   (6) a read-only memory serial switchcode register in said casing for storing information regarding specific location of information in said programmable read-only memory and directing electrical signals to the specific locations and for providing parallel switch code output signals to control other switching units;   (7) first means for providing flow communication between said microcontroller and said non-volatile random access memory;   (8) said first flow communication means including (i) a non-volatile random access memory data buss for allowing the transfer of data between said microcontroller and said non-volatile random access memory;   (ii) a non-volatile random access memory address buss;   (iii) a non-volatile random access memory control buss; and   (iv) a serial interface buss for allowing serial input of data into said non-volatile random access memory;     (9) second means including address lines for providing flow communication of address information between said programmable read-only memory and said serial switchcode register so that address information can be changed or initialized; and     (10) third means including data lines for providing flow communication of data between said programmable read-only memory and said serial switch code register so that switch code data can be changed or initialized     (b) at least one slave modular electronic switching unit in electrical communication with said master switching unit, each said slave switching unit comprising: (1) a slave casing;   (2) a slave display on said slave casing for displaying slave switch position information to the user;   (3) a slave programmable read-only memory in said slave casing for receiving and storing information regarding the electrical code output for each slave switch position and the corresponding message for transmission to said slave display;   (4) a slave read-only memory serial switchcode register in said slave casing for storing information regarding specific locations of information in said slave programmable read-only memory and directing electrical signals to the specific location and for providing parallel switch code output signals to control external equipment;   (5) slave buss means on said slave casing for the electrical connection thereof to equipment to be controlled by said system; and   (6) a slave output electrically connected to said slave switch code register for communicating with the equipment being controlled     (c) buss means on said casing for the electrical connection of said master modular electronic switching unit and said slave modular electronic switching unit; and   (d) an output electrically connected to said serial switchcode register for communicating with said slave modular switching control unit.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including an output buffer drive in each said slave output.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said display includes a liquid crystal display and said slave display includes a liquid crystal display.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said display includes a light emitting diode display and said slave display includes a light emitting diode display.